Lamonte McLemore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lamonte McLemore
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McLemore (top) with The 5th Dimension, 1971
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Lamonte McLemore |
| Born | September 17, 1939 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Genres | Pop music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actor |
| Associated acts | The 5th Dimension |
Lamonte McLemore (born September 17, 1939) is an American singer, songwriter, and professional photographer. He is best known as one of the original members of the famous singing group, The 5th Dimension. This popular group had many hit songs in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Contents
A Man of Many Talents
Lamonte McLemore was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Throughout his life, he has explored many of his passions, including sports, photography, and music.
Early Life and Baseball
Before he became a famous singer, McLemore was a talented athlete. He was the first African American player to try out for the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. After moving to Los Angeles, he also played for a short time as a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers minor league team.
A Career in Photography
After high school, McLemore joined the United States Navy. There, he worked as an aerial photographer, taking pictures from airplanes. This experience helped him start his career as a professional photographer.
In 1958, he started a company called Halmont Graphics with another photographer, Cliff Hall. McLemore became the first African American photographer to be hired by the famous fashion magazine Harper's Bazaar. He also took pictures for magazines like Ebony, Jet, and People for over 40 years. He even photographed the cover for Stevie Wonder's first album.
Founding The 5th Dimension
McLemore's photography career led him to music. In the mid-1960s, he was hired to take pictures at the Miss Black Beauty Pageant. It was there that he met two talented singers, Marilyn McCoo and Florence LaRue. This meeting was the first step in forming the musical group that would become The 5th Dimension.
Songwriting
Besides singing, McLemore also helped write songs for The 5th Dimension. He co-wrote the songs A Love Like Ours and The Singer.
Personal Life
Lamonte McLemore married Lisa Harvey, and they have a daughter named Ciara. In 2014, he shared his life story in a book he wrote with Robert-Allan Arno. The book is called From the Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension - A Life Fulfilled in Baseball, Photography, and Music.
